US2020274132A1PendingUtilityA1

Electrical cell connection arrangements and method thereof

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Assignee: TIVENI MERGECO INCPriority: Feb 22, 2019Filed: Feb 24, 2020Published: Aug 27, 2020
Est. expiryFeb 22, 2039(~12.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Heiner FeesAndreas TrackRalf MaischAlexander EichhornJörg DamaskeValentin BrokopHans-Joachim PflügerClaus Gerald Pflüger
H01R 25/161H01M 50/516H01M 50/548H01M 50/559H01M 50/507H01M 50/562H01M 50/51Y02E60/10H01M 2220/20H01M 2/206H01M 2/30
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PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

In an embodiment, a multi-cell hold-down mechanism is clamped over multiple contact tabs aligned with respective cell terminals (e.g., positive and/or negative cell terminal(s). While clamped, the contact tabs are securely welded to respective cell terminals through respective gaps in the multi-cell hold-down mechanism. In another embodiment, a multi-cell hold-down mechanism is clamped over an electrically conductive part that is coupled to multiple cell rims which are configured as negative cell terminals. A respective negative contact tab is welded to the electrically conductive part through a gap in the multi-cell hold-down mechanism. In another embodiment, three (or more) battery cell terminals (e.g., positive or negative terminals) are coupled to an electrically conductive bar that is welded to a contact tab of a busbar.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrical cell connection arrangement for a battery module, comprising:
 a first battery cell comprising a first terminal;   a second battery cell comprising a second terminal;   at least one busbar comprising a first contact tab aligned with the first terminal and a second contact tab aligned with the second terminal;   a multi-cell hold-down mechanism that comprises a first part clamped over the first contact tab and a second part clamped over the second contact tab,   wherein the first contact tab is welded to the first terminal through a first gap in the first part of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism, and   wherein the second contact tab is welded to the second terminal through a second gap in the second part of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first and second terminals are positive terminals, or   wherein the first terminal is a positive terminal and the second terminal is a negative terminal.   
     
     
         3 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact tab is a multi-terminal contact tab that is coupled to negative terminals of the first and second battery cells. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism is formed from an electrically insulative material. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism comprises a plurality of parts aligned with a respective plurality of positive terminals of a respective plurality of battery cells, and   wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism comprises a single part aligned with a respective plurality of negative terminals of the respective plurality of battery cells.   
     
     
         6 . A method of assembling a battery module, comprising:
 aligning a first contact tab of at least one busbar with a first terminal of a first battery cell;   aligning a second contact tab of the at least one busbar with a second terminal of a second battery cell;   clamping a multi-cell hold-down mechanism onto the first and second contact tabs such that the first and second contact tabs are secured to the first and second terminals;   welding, during the clamping, the first contact tab to the first terminal through a first gap in a first part of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism; and   welding, during the clamping, the second contact tab to the second terminal through a second gap in a second part of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first and second terminals are positive terminals, or   wherein the first terminal is a positive terminal and the second terminal is a negative terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first contact tab is a multi-terminal contact tab,   wherein the welding of the first contact tab welds the first contact tab to negative terminals of the first and second battery cells.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism is formed from an electrically insulative material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the clamping aligns a plurality of parts of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism with a respective plurality of positive terminals of a respective plurality of battery cells, and   wherein the clamping aligns a single part of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism with a respective plurality of negative terminals of the respective plurality of battery cells.   
     
     
         11 . An electrical cell connection arrangement for a battery module, comprising:
 a first battery cell comprising a first positive terminal and a first cell rim arranged as a first negative terminal;   a second battery cell comprising a second positive terminal and a second cell rim arranged as a second negative terminal;   an electrically conductive part coupled to the first and second cell rims;   a busbar comprising a negative contact tab; and   a multi-cell hold-down mechanism that is clamped over the electrically conductive part,   wherein the negative contact tab is welded to a welding interface of the electrically conductive part that is exposed through a gap in the multi-cell hold-down mechanism.   
     
     
         12 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third battery cell comprising a third positive terminal and a third cell rim arranged as a third negative terminal,   wherein the electrically conductive part is further coupled to the third cell rim.   
     
     
         13 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the electrically conductive part includes a flat section in direct contact with the first and second cell rims, and   wherein the welding interface is arranged as an electrically conductive pin.   
     
     
         14 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein part of the multi-cell hold-down mechanism is wrapped around the electrically conductive pin. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the flat section comprises a first welding area exposed by the multi-cell hold-down mechanism that is welded to the first negative terminal, and   wherein the flat section comprises a second welding area exposed by the multi-cell hold-down mechanism that is welded to the second negative terminal.   
     
     
         16 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 13 , wherein the flat section comprises sheet metal and the electrically conductive pin comprises aluminum or copper. 
     
     
         17 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism is formed from an electrically insulative material. 
     
     
         18 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first positive terminal is encircled by the first cell rim, and   wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism comprises a first section arranged as a wall between the first positive terminal and the first cell rim.   
     
     
         19 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the second positive terminal is encircled by the second cell rim, and   wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism comprises a second section arranged as a wall between the second positive terminal and the second cell rim.   
     
     
         20 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the multi-cell hold-down mechanism and the electrically conductive part are pre-assembled with the first and second battery cells before the battery module is assembled. 
     
     
         21 . An electrical cell connection arrangement for a battery module, comprising:
 a first battery cell comprising a first terminal;   a second battery cell comprising a second terminal;   a third battery cell comprising a third terminal;   an electrically conductive part coupled to the first, second and third terminals; and   a busbar comprising a contact tab that is welded to a welding interface of the electrically conductive part.   
     
     
         22 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the welding interface is an electrically conductive pin. 
     
     
         23 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 21 ,
 wherein the first, second and third terminals are negative terminals, or   wherein the first, second and third terminals are positive terminals.   
     
     
         24 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the electrically conductive part comprises sheet metal. 
     
     
         25 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the electrically conductive part is pre-assembled with the first, second and third battery cells before the battery module is assembled. 
     
     
         26 . The electrical cell connection arrangement of  claim 21 , wherein the electrically conductive part is pre-assembled with an insulative foil that is separate from the first, second and third battery cells before the battery module is assembled.

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